Polygon’s MATIC is getting a makeover: Founders release white paper for POL

Polygon, a layer-2 network built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, is planning to revamp the tokenomics of matic, its native token. 

The tokenomics revamp is part of the network’s “Polygon 2.0” plans. A handful of the network’s founders and researchers proposed the change.

A white paper that outlines the new design explained how the network intends to introduce POL — a new native token that will replace MATIC.

POL is what the Polygon team calls a “hyperproductive token,” similar to “productive tokens” which can be used by validators to secure a network and reap benefits. The team said the upgraded token will have all the critical aspects of a productive token, but it can also be used by validators to secure multiple chains. Every chain can likewise offer multiple roles to these validators.

Polygon noted in a blog post that different chains can offer roles including: accepting transactions and block generation, creating zero-knowledge proofs, and participating in data availability committees.

Migrating MATIC tokens to POL will be achieved by sending the MATIC tokens to a designated smart contract. This smart contract will handle the conversion process automatically, converting the deposited MATIC into an equivalent amount of POL.

To ensure that all token holders have enough time to transfer their assets, the Polygon team is planning to give users more than four years to change their tokens. 

The initial supply of the token will be capped at 10 billion, and most of these tokens will be reserved for transitioning MATIC to POL. Following the initial supply, the white paper proposes that the token’s emission rate, the speed at which a token can be created, be capped at 1% each year for the next ten years.

Following the announcement, Polygon’s community governance will discuss and provide feedback on the proposal before determining next steps.

---

Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

• Blockworks Daily: The newsletter that helps thousands of investors understand crypto and the markets, by Byron Gilliam.
• Empire: Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross.
• Forward Guidance: Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin.
• 0xResearch: Get alpha directly in your inbox — market highlights, charts, degen trade ideas, governance updates, and more.
• Lightspeed: All things Solana, in your inbox, every day from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.
• The Drop: The newsletter for crypto collectors and traders, covering games, tokens, apps, memes and more.